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How do I pick my audition song?
That is a question I get asked time and time again and my simple answer is that you need to choose something which shows off your acting skills as much (if not more than) as your singing skills. However I do have a bunch of guidelines which you should follow when you are selecting audition material for musical theatre or drama school auditions.
Rules for choosing an audition song
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Pick a similar style to the showIf you are auditioning for a musical then you will very often be told to choose something which is similar in style to the show being cast – you could be asked for ‘an 80s pop song’, ‘a rock song’ ‘a fifties doo-wap number’ etc, etc! This is really helpful and steers you in the right direction.If this doesn’t happen and you are not told what they are after then it is up to you to do your homework. You need to listen to the music from the show and choose something which is in the same vein – You Tube is an actor’s best friend, search for that show and you will find plenty of songs from the show and you can then begin your search. -
Stay away from the overdoneSinging something like ‘Defying Gravity’ is just killing your chances! They will have heard loads of others doing the very same song and you will always be compared to not only all of those other auditionees but you will also be compared to Idina Menzel’s iconic performance.Look for a song which is a little out of the ordinary and not performed all that often.
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Do not sing the show’s big numberDo not sing the a song from the show you are auditioning for unless you are specifically asked to prepare one. Singing a song from that show smacks a little of desperation but also is showing them a performance of a song which they have their own ideas on how it is to be performed.You will often be asked to sing from the show at recall – wait until then
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Show off your voiceAs a musical theatre actor you should know your strengths and your audition song is the perfect opportunity to show them off. If you have a high belt choose a number which shows that off, if you can sing fast passages with ease then go for a song which shows them that skill.Your audition is a chance to sell yourself so don’t choose something which short changes you!
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Stick to typeAn audition song is a chance to show off your acting skills – so choose a song which is sung by a character you could realistically be cast as.If you are a young actress in your 20s do not choose to sing ‘Rose’s Turn’ and likewise if you are a Momma Rose then don’t choose to sing ‘Sixteen going on Seventeen’. Give the auditioners a chance to see what kind of roles you can play and also think about the character you are auditioning for.
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Choose a song you could sing on an off dayAt an audition you will be nervous so never choose a song which has a note which you can only sometimes hit or a passage which you have been stumbling over in practise.Choose a song which you are completely confident in and that you can easily find your place if the accompanist slips up – remember that it is sometimes the first time they will have played these notes!
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Edit wiselyYou will often be asked to sing only 16 or 32 bars so when you edit your song the chosen cut needs to not only make sense as a stand alone piece but also be the bars which show off your voice.A mistake many people make is just singing the first 16 or 32 bars – be smarter than that.
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Like what you doIt is so important that the song you choose is something that you like. If you don’t like the song then that will definitely come across to the audition panel. If you don’t like the song then you will never be able to sing it in a way which showcases you at your best.When you genuinely like a song you will interpret it properly and enjoy practising it too!
Check out our song choice pages below or search on MusicNotes for your sheet music
Musical Theatre Actor Hub Advice
